Rocket engine having turbine located in nozzle for driving auxiliaries



ay 12, 1953 l.. LAWRENCE, JR IN AVING TURBINE LOCATED DRIVING AUXILIARIES 5 Sheets-Sheet l ROCKET INNO EF' Filed April l, 1949 VW ll/ Will May l2, 1953 L. LAWRENCE, JR 2,637,973 ROCKET ENGINE HAVING TURBINE LOCATED IN NOZZLE FOR DRIVING AUXILIARIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April ll 1949 INVENTOR May 12, 1953 l.. LAWRENCE, JR 2,637,973 ROCKET ENGINE HAVING TURBINE LOCATED IN NOZZLE FOR DRIVING AUXILIARIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April l, 1949 May l2, 1953 L. LAWRENCE, JR 2,637,973

ROCKET ENGINE HAVING TURBINE LOCATED IN NOZZLE FOR DRIVING AUXILIARIES Filed April l, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ITL-:5-5.

May l2, 1953 LAWRENCE, JR 2,637,973

ROCKET ENGINE HAVING TURBINE LOCATED IN NOZZLE FOR DRIVING AUXILIARIES Filed April l, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hydraulic Fluid Supply I Tank Sm'mg lNvE TOR Supply Fuel TcmkY al Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic arrangement showing the operating controls for the motor.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a section taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section in diagrammatic form taken on lines 1-'I of Fig. 6. t

Fig. 8 is a modified arrangement of roperating controls for the motor.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a restricting mem-r ber of modified configuration.

The following detailed description follows'in general a logical sequence in the steps of assemly and a description of the operation of the device is included at the end of the detailed descriptive matter.

Referring to Fig. 1, circular plate I D has an integral cylindrical sleeve Ia extending outward. perpendicular to its face as shown, and has a central hole through it for passage of a shaft I5 as described later. Over theextended sleeve Ia of plate IIJ is a cylinder Il one end of which is welded to the face of -plate 'I Its other end terminatesin a frustum of a cone, the periphery of they small diameter of which is welded tothe outer endI of the sleeveof plate I0. An annular space 88 is thus formed between-cylinder II and the sleeve Illa of plate lil. An outer cylinder I2 is locatedabout inner cylinder -I I and is spaced from it withY one endv thereof also welded to the face ofv plate Ill. Its other end has aninner lip which has' aV shaped depression in it as shown. The inner periphery of this lip is welded to the outer periphery of cylinder I I at the base of the conical portion. Small holes 59 (see also Fig. 3) are provided inthe lip, their axes being perpendicular to the-faces of the lip. Similar small holes 58 are providedv in the conical portion of inner cylinder II. With outer cylinder I2 in place, an annular space S'I is formed between it and inner cylinder About the exterior of outer cylinder I2 is fitted a-collar` I3 which iits against a lip on the outer periphery 0f cylinder I2 in the manner shown and has screw threads upon its outside. On the left face of plate I0 is a recess which houses a ball bearing I4 held in place by retainer I5 and supporting shaft I6.

The group of parts so fardescribed comprise aunit which may be called a head or an injector head.

Through the central opening in this injector head extends the central shaft- I6, at the end of which shaft, nearest injector holes 58 and 59, is welded a bulb I'I of a shape substantially as shown and which has solid vane bales 2 4 welded upon it. l Bulb II is solid except for-acentral hole through its longitudinal axis which hole extendsv lback along the longitudinal axis of shaft I6 to. connect with holes 60 in shaft. I6. Shaft i6 is rods 6 2 (see Fig. 2) are welded to bulb II and spot-welded to bulb jacket I3 whichv is of formed mlluahdshaped to nt the contour of bulb II with allowance for space between the two members determined by the diameter of spacing-rods 62. 'Suitable slots are cut in member I9 to allow vane baffles 2| to-project and formed metal vanes housing 28 arebolted to one another.

of resilient material.

28 are fitted over vane bales 2|, spaced from it to create a cooling passage. Member I9 may also be called a restricting member. An alternate type of restricting member is shown in Figure 9. Instead of vanes located upon the exterior of the member, a helical .groove 20a is recessed into its exterior in the manner shown. The rush of hot gases from the combustion chamber in flowing past the member tends to follow the groove rather thanits normal, relatively straight path of iiow, thus awtwisting moment is imparted to the restrictingmember and its yattached shaft.

The opposite end of shaft I6 extends through housing 28 which is attached to plate I0 by means of bolts '63. 'Housing 28 has a recess formed in it so that chamber 64 is created when plate I0 and A central hole in housing 28 permits passage of shaft IG. 'a'fluid-tight seal being provided at 65. The opposite side of housing v28 is open to form a recess for ball bearing 29, held in place by retaining ring SI), and to rform al larger recess to house gear 3| whichis slidably fitted to spline 32y ofshaft I6 (see Fig, 6).--Gear 3| isfree to slideV upon shaft I8 and yet -will beturned positively by any rotation of the shaft.l f- Movement ofgear 3| away from bearing 29is prevented'by thrustbear Reference to-Fig. 6 shows two parallelsecondary shafts 35 and 43 mounted in housing 28 withI their longitudinal axes substantially in the plane of gear 3|. Each shaft is arranged to be rotated by an integral spiral bevel pinion gear. These gears are numbered 34 and 44 respectively. Each shaft is supported by ball bearings 36 set-into recesses in housing 28 andv supported thereby. Directly adjacent to bearing 36 and on the side away from pinion gear 34 is a fluid-tight seal 31 Next to seal 31 is a supporting sleeve 39 having a fluid-tight seal 38 set in the periphery of its shoulder. -The end of this bearing sleeve lsupports a ring-like metallic seal 48 which in turn seats on the impeller of pump 5'I `to help prevent iiuid from lleaking along shaft 35 and the-impeller ofy pump 51 is firmly attached to shaft 35. The opposite end` of shaft 35 has an exactly similar arrangement to support another impeller. At one end of-shaft 43 is asimilar arrangement except that a multi-bladed turbine wheel 45 is firmly attached to shaft 43 by means of cap screw 46. The opposite end of shaft 43 is also similar except that sleeve 39 yand sealing ring 48 are omitted and the end of shaft 43 is slotted so that it can be fitted to a mating shaft of an accessory device.

Figure 1 shows that housing 28 is so shaped that housings 56a and 51a can be fastened to it by means of bolts 51.

D.sklike member 48 (Fig. l) serves as a support for thrust bearing 33 and as a head for hydraulic:

cylinder 55. A central hole is provided in member 43 to permit passage of shaft Iand a f1uid tight seal 8B is provided.

The yleft hand end of shaft ls isreduc'ed in d1- ameter to allow bearing 50 tobe placed aboutit. and against the shoulder created by the reducv tion in diameter of shaft I6. Circular pistonv69 is closely fitted about and is held to the outer race of bearing 50 by retaining ring 53. Bearing 50 and attached piston 69 are fastened to the end of shaft y I6 by means of bolt 52 which has a washer,. 5 l be; neath itsjhead, and sealing rings 54 are set .in

49 and 69. These members prevent passage of hydraulic duid through bearing 5B.

Cylinder 55 is fitted over piston tu and is at.- tached by stud bolts 1| to member 4B and housing 28 thus form-ing a chamber on each side of piston 69. Each of these chambers has an opening through which hydraulic fluid can be forced in or out, designated 12 and 13.

At the right hand end of the engine. circular collar 22- is threaded tightly onto member I3` and sealing rings 14 are provided to create a gas-tight join-t at the junction between these two members. Collar 22 has an annular lip about its inside p6:- riphery to bear against a similar lip on the' outer periphery of cylinder l2 of the injector head. Cylindrical combustion chamber wall 23, of slight.- ly smaller diameter than collar 22, is welded to collar 22 substantially in the position shown and this wall 23 is of formed thin metal with a bellshaped outer end formed into it. To this outer end of chamber wall 23 is welded annular exhaust nozzle 2li also of thin formed metal. This nozzle reduces rapidly in diameter to a throat of considerably smaller diameter than that of the small est diameter of chamber wall 2.3 and then more gradually expands in diameter to its open end. About the exterior of chamber wall 23 is a. thin metal jacket 25 welded to the periphery of collar 22 and spaced apart from Wall 23 by the thickness of a helical winding of heavy wire 15. Jacket 25 is of the same shape as chamber wall 23 but is of larger diameter. Attached to the outer end of jacket 25 is a nozzle jacket or bale 26. Baule 26 is also spaced from nozzle 24 by the thickness of a helical winding of wire 16. The outer end of baffle 26 is shorter than that of nozzle 24 to provide communication With an annular chamber 11 formed by cylindrical shell 21 which is Welded to the intersection of jacket 25 and baille 2.5 and to the periphery of the outer end of nozzle 24. An inlet 18 to chamber 11 and an outlet 19 from the space between chamber wall 23 and jacket 2.5 are provided.

Figure 5 shows a normally closed valve 8e connected by means of pipes 82 and 82a to the outlet of oxidizer pump 51 and by pipe 83 to inlet 1-8 at the outer end of the engine cylinder. This valve 80 has a closure element Silar carried by a stem Blb connected to a bellows 80e. Air or gas pressure applied to the interior of the bellows will push rod Sb and lift the element 80u. from its seat to effect communication between pipes 82 and 83. Upon release of the pressure. the spring 80d will return the closure element to normal closed position. A similar normally-closed valve 3| is connected by means of pipe 84 to the outlet of fuel pump 56 and by pipe 85 to chamber 64.

The course of flow of the propellants can now be traced through the engine. Oxidizer is forced by pump 51 from oxidizer supply tank 91 through pipe 82 to valve 80. From valve 80, it is carried by pipe 83 into chamber 11 whence it passes through the space between nozzle 24 and baille 26 (Fig. l) for the purpose of cooling nozzle 24. Oxidizer then flows through the space between chamber wall 23 and jacket 25 for cooling purposes, and for preheating of the oxidizer, and ows through outlet 19 and pipe 86 into chamber 81. From annular chamber 81, the oxidizer is admitted to the combustion chamber through the small orifices 59.

Fuel is forced by pump 56 (Fig. 5) from fuel supply tank S8 through pipe 84 to valve 8|. From valve 8 I, fuel flows through pipe 85 into chamber 54 (Fig. 1). Ports 6g admit fuel from chamber 64 to the central hele in shaft le through which. it news outward until it passes into the space be tween restriotor bulb |1 and its jacket I8. `It also flows through the space between venes 2| and their jackets 20. Fuel then flows through the annular space between shaft I6 and its shell t8 whence it is admitted to annular chamber 88 through round ports 90 and vslotted ports 8-9. From chamber 88, the fuel is admitted tothe combusf` tion chamber through the. small. orifices 58- where the stream of fuel meets the stream of onidizcrv and combustion taires placer Fuel and oxidizer are supplied. from separate supply reservoirs 6 1 and 98, each of which is connected by piping directly toits respective pump. tank 91 being connected to pump 51 and tank 98 being connected to pump 5.6. An air pressure supply tank |06 is connected by means o con duit |091) through manually operated valve los to housing 28 through pipe lSa such a manner that air from supply tank |06 will strike upon the blades of turbine wheel 45 and cause it to rotate (see Fig. '1). Air supply tank |.6 is alsov connected by means of conduit lllb through manually-operated valve |03. From valve tou, connection is made by means of conduit |0811 to valve Hu, from which conduits llllb and. HM lead to pressure-responsive operating elements such as Suc of each of control valves, 86 and 8| respectively.

'lhe engine is started by first causing rotation of turbine wheel t5 by openngmanually-operated valve we to allow a blast of air from pressure tank lut to strike upon the blades of the turbine wheel. Through the gearing arrangement previously described, the impellers of pumps 56 and 51 will be caused to rotate to pump oxidizer and fuel from supply tanks 91 and 9 8 to their respective control valves 8i! and 8|. Vent valve I-lll of a type which allows passage of air through its body from pipe lilBa but which provides a manually-operated vent to the atmosphere when it is desired to release the pressure on elements e of valves 80 and 8|. Thisvent is kept closed during starting and operation of the motor and is opened upon stopping of the motor to allow valves Sand 8| to restore themselves to-.aclosed position in readiness for another cycle of opera tion. When sufficient pressure is developed in the system to start the engine, valves 80 and 81' are opened by opening manually-,operated valve H16 to allow air under pressurefrom supply tank |06 to flow to their pressure responsive operating elements. Upon operation of propellant valves 8s and 8|, fuel and oxidizer will flow to the combustion chamber in the manner previously ded scribed. 'Ihe fuel and oxidizer ignite upon meet ing one another in the combustion chamber causing a rush of het gases past varies 2n of the restrictor bulb I1. The rush of gases upon the vanes, which are inclined to the direction of new.. produces a torque upon shaft t6 whichthenrotates and drives pumps and 51. Valve wacan then be closed to stop fur-ther flow of gas underv pressure to turbine Wheel 45, butvalve mais al lowed to remain open so that pressure Awill be maintained upon the pressure sensitive elements of control valves 8i! and 8l to keepthem open. This starting procedure is followed regardless of the position of the throttle handle.

The speed of rotation of shaft I6 and pumps 56 and 51 isy determined by the position of varies 20 in relation to the belled outer end of chamber Wall 23. If they are nearest the point 23a of chamber wall 23. i., e. toward the left initial. the

velocity of flow of the hot-gases of combustion will be high since the area through which the gases can flow 'past vanes 20 is relatively small resulting in a high speed of rotation of shaft |6 and pumps 56 and 5l and a consequent high rate of delivery ofpropellants lto the combustion chamber. `If vanes 20 are-nearest to the point 23h of chamber Wall 23, i. e. in the position shownin Fig. l, the velocity of now of the hot gases past vanes 20 will below since the area through which the gases must flow is relatively large, resulting in a low speed of rotationof shaft I6 and pumps 56 and 5l and a consequent lo'w rate of delivery of propellants to the combustion chamber.

This eect thus automatically provides a proper supply of propellants to the combustion chamber for each position of the nozzle restrictor |9 as it is moved into or out of throat 24a of nozzle 24 for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the propulsive thrust output of the'motor as explained previously.

The position of restrictor bulb I9 is controlled by movement of throttle handle 94 which is connected by a suitable linkage to piston 93 tomoveit and thus force hydraulic fluid through pipes 9| and 92 and openings l2 and 13 into ythe space on one side or the other of piston 69 in cylinder 55. For example, movement of handle 94 to the right,-in Fig. 5, moves piston 93 to the left, forcinghydraulic fluid through pipe 92 into-cylinder 55 through opening 12, and causes it to exert a force upon piston 69 moving it and attached shaft i6 toward the right. Conversely, movement of handle 94 to the left, moves piston 93 to the right forcing hydraulic fluid through pipe 9| into cylinder 55 through opening '13, and causes it to exert a force upon piston 69 moving it and attached shaft I5 toward the left. Hydraulic fluid is supplied from reservoir 96 and flows to both sides of piston 93 through suitable piping and check valve 95.

An arrangement for starting the engine without the use of turbine wheel 45 isshown in Fig. 8. This would be advantageous in the event that it became necessary or desirable to use both ends of shaft 43' to drive accessory devices.

Such an arrangement involves the addition of two pressure tanks 99 and |00 and several check valves. Valve |09 and the pipe to turbine wheel- 45 are eliminated. Tank 99 is installed in the pipe connecting control valve 80 and pump 5l. A check valve |0| is locatedin the pipe between tank 99 and pump 5l to prevent fluid from passing out of tank 99 in that direction. A similar tank |60 is` installed inthe pipev connecting control valve 6| and pump 56. A check valve |02 is located in the pipe between tank |00 and pump 56 to preventfluid from passing out of tank |00 in that direction. Tanks 99 and |00 are both connected by piping'to air pressure supply tank |06. Manually operated valve |01 is provided so that air from tank |06 can flow to tanks 99 and |00. Check valves |03 and |04 are located as shown to prevent any air or liquid flow back to tank |06. The remainder of the system is exactly the same as that in which turbine wheel 45 is used for start-- of control valves 80 and 8| causing them to open to admit fuel and oxidizer to the engine. When fuel and oxidizer meet within the combustion chamber, combustion occurs and the hot gases cause rotationof shaft |6 in the manner previously described. Pumps 56 and 51 are therefore driven and deliver fuel and oxidizer to tanks 99 and |00 and thence to the engine.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied -to a single modification, it

will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reaction motor, a combustion chamber, ahead and an exhaust nozzle at opposite ends of said chamber, and a nozzle restricting member, having vanes thereon, means for supporting said member adjacent said nozzle for movement along the longitudinal central axis of said chamber and nozzle and for rotation on said axis, a means operated upon rotation of said nozzle restricting member,.said rotation being brought about by the action of the rush of hot gases of ;co1nbustion against the vanes on said restricting member.

2.v In a reaction motor, a combustion Achamber, a head and an exhaust nozzle at opposite ends of said chamber, a nozzle restricting memiber, means on said member for causing rotation of said member by the action of the combustion gases on said means, means for supporting said member adjacent said nozzle for movement along the longitudinal central axis of said chamber and nozzle and for rotation on said axis, and a shaft xedly attached to said restricting member.

3. In a reaction motor, a combustion chamber, a head and an exhaust nozzle at opposite ends of said chamber, a nozzle restricting member, means on said member i'or causing rotation of said member by the action of the combustion gases on said means, means' for supporting said member adjacent said nozzle for movement along the longitudinal central axis of said chamber and nozzle and for rotation on said axis, a shaft xedly attached to said restricting member, gearing longitudinally slidable on said shaft and a plurality of propellant supply pumps driven thereby.

4. In a reaction motor, a combustion chamber, a head and an exhaust nozzle at opposite ends of said chamber, a nozzle restricting member, means on said member for causing rotation of said member by the action of the combustion gases on said means, means for supporting said member adjacent saidnozzle for movement along the longitudinal central axis of said chamber and nozzle and for rotation on said axis, a shaft xedly attached to said restricting member, gearing longitudinally slidable on said shaft, a pump driven through said gearing, a source of propellant supply, a connection-between said source and said pump, a further connection between said pump and said combustion chamber where' by the rate of flow of propellant is controlled by the pump.

5. In a reaction motor, a combustion chamloer,`

a head and anv exhaust nozzle attached at opposite ends of said chamber, a nozzle restricting said separate shafts and driven thereby, means for housing said gears and said impellers, means for conducting a liquid propellant from one'of the pumps to a pneumatically operated normallyclosed valve and thence to the space between the inner and outer wall of said combustion chamber, into a second annular chamber ofthe head from whence the propellant -ows through orifices into the combustion chamber, means for conducting a second liquid propellantl from the second pump to a second pneumatically operated normally-closed valve and thence to the said annular chamber within said housing, a hydraulic means, responsive to movement of a manual throttle, for moving the central shaft and bulb into or out of the nozzle of the combustion chamber, an air-driven turbine for causing rotation of the central shaft for starting purposes, and a pneumatic circuit, including a source of gas pressure and a valve, `for openingy the propellant valves.

12. In a reaction motor, a combustion chamber comprising a head and a nozzle, a restricting member, means for rotatably supporting said member on the axis of and adjacent'to` said nozzle, means for adjustably positioning said member along its axis to vary the nozzle opening through which the gases escape from the chamber, said 4member having its surface configured to be acted upon and rotated by the escaping gases, and at least one vpump forfeeding fuel to said chamber positively driven in a rotary manner by said 'membertupon rotation thereof.

13. In a reaction motor, a combustion chamber comprising a head and an-ozzle, a restricting member, means for rotatably supporting -sad member on the axis of and adjacent to said nozzle, means for adustably positioning said member along its axis to vary the nozzle opening through which the gases escape from the'chamber, a vane extending from said member and inclined to said axis, acted upon by the escaping gases to rotate the member, and at leastA one pump for feeding fuel to said chamber positively driven in a rotary manner by upon rotation thereof. f f 14. The invention set forth in claim 12 in which the adjustable positioning means comprises a shaft secured to said member; slidably mounted along said axis and reciprocable within said head, and means for varying the axial position of the shaft within the head to thereby Vary the relationship between the memberand nozzle. 15. In a reaction motor having a combustion chamber comprising a head and a nozzle, arestricting member located adjacent to said nozzle to .dene the area of .escapinggases and rotated by said gases, a means operated upon rosaid member tation of saidshaftand restricting member, said member comprising a bulb'having a passage therethrough and an envelope spaced from' and partially'surrounding said bulb, means on the exterior of said envelope to deiiect the path of flow of gases from said combustion chamber to cause said rotation, a source of fuel supply, a connection between said passage and said-source ofv supply, and a connection between-said space and said combustion chamber whereby fuelwill pass from said source through said passage, then into said space and then to said chamber to yef-j fect a heat exchange between the escaping gases surrounding the envelope and thefuel passing through said space. 1 16. The invention set forth in claim12- in which auxiliary means is provided for initially rotating said memberto-feed fuel to thechamber, subsequent-combustion of the fuel maintaining the rotation of the member. 17.. The invention set forth in-claim 12 in which the adjustable positioning means comprises a hydraulic-device, acting upon said restricting member to effect positive positioning in either direction along its axis and to hold the member in adjusted position. l

18. The invention set forth in claim 12 in-Which the adjustable positioning means comprises a shaft secured to said member, slidably mounted along said axis and reciprocable within said head, and means for 'varying the axial positionof the shaft within the head to thereby yvary-the relationship between the member and nozzle, said last named means including a piston secured.v to the end ofthe shaft and -means for applying iiuid pressure to both sidesof the piston in accordance vwith the desired direction of` movement of the member. v LOVELL LAWRENCE, JR.

References cited m the me f this patent UNITED s-TATEs PATENTS.

Number Name Date 2,024,274 Campini ,nec. 17, 1935 2,407,852 smith sep1; 17, 194e r2,450,950 Goddard ,oct, 1 2, 1943 2,455,845 Wells '1380.1 7 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS,l 1'

Number Country' C Date y 375,260 Italy L Sept. 29, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES Astronautica March 1944, article by- Cv.I P; Lent, pages 11 to 13, incl. :y: Flight, March 20, 1947, article entitled` Rocket Engines, pages 231 and 232'. f f f- 

